In a shocking incident on Sunday afternoon, six individuals were injured in what is being characterised by federal officials as a 'targeted terror act' at a pro-Israel protest in Boulder. The attacker, identified by the FBI as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, allegedly threw Molotov cocktails and used a makeshift flamethrower on elderly attendees assembled on Pearl Street Mall. The FBI and Boulder Police Department stated that the attack happened at 3:30 PM local time while a peaceful rally for Israeli hostages was taking place. Witnesses reported hearing the suspect shout “Free Palestine” before throwing glass bottles filled with incendiary liquid into the crowd. Among the injured were six people, ranging in age from 67 to 88, some of whom received minor to critical burn injuries. They were taken to nearby hospitals, with some receiving treatment for burns on their legs and bodies.

Who Is Mohamed Sabry Soliman?

The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was apprehended shortly after the attack. He was reportedly shirtless, visibly injured, and holding glass bottles. He is currently under medical care and in custody. Authorities believe he acted alone, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety. Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI’s Denver Field Office confirmed, “This was a targeted act of terrorism. The suspect used incendiary devices with the intent to harm.”

What Is A Molotov Cocktail?

A Molotov cocktail is an improvised incendiary device commonly made from a glass bottle filled with burning liquid such as gasoline, with a wick made of rag that is set alight and thrown at a target. During the Winter War (1939) between Finland and the Soviet Union, Russian foreign minister Molotov produced propaganda against their enemies in Finland, on Soviet radio, claiming that bombing missions over the country were “airborne food deliveries” for their “starving neighbours.” After that, the name was coined in sarcastic reference to the then Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. First used by Finnish resistance fighters to blow up Soviet tanks. The Alko corporation in 1939 made 5,00,000 of Molotov cocktails, which empowered the Finnish to push back Soviet forces. Molotov cocktails have since become emblematic weapons of civil disorder and insurgent warfare because they are inexpensive and deadly.

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FBI Director Kash Patel termed the attack a "targeted terror act", whereas Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser indicated that it might be considered a hate crime in light of the victims' connection to the Jewish community.“This is horrifying and cannot be allowed to continue,” said U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, condemning the act as part of a disturbing rise in antisemitic violence. 19-year-old University of Colorado student Brooke Coffman, a witness to the attack, said, "I saw four women on the ground with burns. One was badly burned everywhere. The attacker was screaming and had a burning bottle." This assault comes on the heels of rising turmoil in the US over the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

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The number of violent clashes between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups has mounted in recent months, with campuses serving as hotspots for protest and retaliation. Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared the attack "unfathomable," stating, "This sort of violence has no place in Colorado or anywhere in America. We will not tolerate hate." Although no formal charges have been released as of Monday, officials from the FBI and local law enforcement said they plan to hold Soliman fully accountable. The investigation into the suspect's past, motive, and any potential connections to extremist groups continues.